Help with laptop selection

Pulvaan

Hey guys,

I just got admitted to medical school (woohoo!) and i need to find a laptop that fits my needs. I don't know a lot about computers, but here is what i am interested in:

- power - able to run photoshop, other adobe suite programs, servicably. A bit of slow down is fine, but I am hoping I would be able to work with it.
- Large screen - I am going to be using it for long hours, word processing, doing school related work, and graphics work. I want something that won't strain my eyes (no acer mini computers).
- connectivity - possibly internal wireless modem.
- Windows based OS. I've tried Mac OS, worked with it a lot, and I've found I can't stand using it. I'll put up with it if i have to to get the above three things, but would much prefer Windows, and especially XP.


I don't honestly care about how much it weighs (i'm fine with like 7 lbs or more) or what it looks like. If I can get the above on a students budget, I'll be happy.

thanks for your help, guys.

Improvolone

"Student's" isn't a dollar figure. Give us one of those.

Pulvaan

about $1000

Oski

HP makes some verryyyyyyy cost effective laptops, if your willing to compromise a bit on construction.

acidlacedpenguin

buy a lenovo, they look like they're 15 years old so no one will try to steal it but they're build like tanks and will probably survive longer than you will.

vonPoonBurGer

Pulvaan wrote: »

...able to run photoshop, other adobe suite programs, servicably...Large screen - I am going to be using it for long hours...I don't honestly care about how much it weighs...

I honestly don't understand why you'd want a notebook. Maybe you think you're going to lug it around campus despite the weight, or you'll take it with you on trips home and do schoolwork while there. I'd say neither of those is realistic, and I can't envision any other scenario that would make much use of the "portability" of a 7lb. brick. If I were you, for $1000 I'd be looking at a decent desktop, and maybe a netbook for light portable stuff.

proXimity

Maybe consider getting a decently powerful 15" laptop and an additional external monitor for back at your residence. Something like this monitor with a laptop around $800. A Dell Studio 15 is a pretty solid choice. You might want to get a decent mouse and keyboard too if you do that.

zhen_rogue

I can vouch for both Lenovo and Sager notebook systems.
If you're planning on running Vista and CS4 Photoshop, make SURE you have 2gb of ram installed (3 if your notebook will support it).

I recommend checking out the following site for notebook reviews and questions exactly like yours:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/

Ripsteel

You could always try a Lenovo..they are a lot sturdy and are pretty good. It would be good for your med school needs.In fact my roomate's using one and finds it pretty awesome..(he's a computer geek)..

Corvus

zhen_rogue wrote: »

I can vouch for both Lenovo and Sager notebook systems.
If you're planning on running Vista and CS4 Photoshop, make SURE you have 2gb of ram installed (3 if your notebook will support it).

I recommend checking out the following site for notebook reviews and questions exactly like yours:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/

If I could lime URLs, I would. That site is awesome, they even have an entire subforum devoted to "What Laptop Should I Buy?"

Eriic

Corvus wrote: »

zhen_rogue wrote: »

I can vouch for both Lenovo and Sager notebook systems.
If you're planning on running Vista and CS4 Photoshop, make SURE you have 2gb of ram installed (3 if your notebook will support it).

I recommend checking out the following site for notebook reviews and questions exactly like yours:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/

If I could lime URLs, I would. That site is awesome, they even have an entire subforum devoted to "What Laptop Should I Buy?"

{url=http://forum.notebookreview.com}{color=lime}http://forum.notebookreview.com{/color}{/url}
http://forum.notebookreview.com